Testing equipment for electrical apparatus



Jam, 3E, H5@ G. c. BUCK TESTING EQUIPMENT FOR ELECTRICAL APPARATUS FiledMarch 8, 1948 w WNW l INVENTOR. eafge d 5.4/0?

Patented Jan. 31, 1950 UNITED STATES PAENT GFFICE;

TESTNG. EQUIPMENT FOR nLEo'rnroAL APPARATUS l This invention relates toa device for testing electrical apparatus and has for its primaryobj'ct, the provision of an instrument capable o f detecting faultyconnections and the like in electripa-l circuits and electrical elementsgenerally by illumination when brought in close proximity therewith.

".Ig'he most important object of this invention is the provision of atesting device for electrical ape paratus having an elongated vacuumtube provided with gas capable of illumination when' the instrument isbrought into close proximity with an electrical circuit, said tube beingprovided with a pair of spaced apart electrodes, one of such electrodeshaving a lead line for connection with a grounded element,

Another important object o f this invention is to provide a testingdevice for electrical apparatus having a sleeve telesccping theaforesaid elongated tube for protecting the same against breakage, saidsleeve having a plurality of openings formed therein to render thevacuum tube visible.

Another important object of this invention is to provide a testingdevice o f the aforesaid character having the ends thereof protected b ya cap of resilient and non-conducting material.

Other more minor objects will be made clear or become apparent duringthe course of the following specification, reference being had to theaccompanying drawing, wherein:

Fig. l is a perspective view of a testing device for electricalapparatus showing the same in operative use with a part of an automobileignition system; yand Fig. 2 is a substantially central longitudinalcross sectional view taken through the device shown in Fig. l.

In the drawing, the numeral l designates an elongated, hollow tube madefrom glass or other transparent material having the ends thereof closedand provided with a pair of electrodes I2 and Iii. These electrodes I2and It are positioned within the tube I Il adjacent each end thereofrespectively and have reduced portions I6 and I8 respectively passingthrough openings provided in such ends of the tube l. These reducedportions I i3 are sealed within such openings and in any suitable mannerto the end that the tube Iii is capable of containing any of the wellknown gases capable of illumination when the device is brought intoadjacency with an electrical circuit as hereinafter will be made moreclear.

The electrode I4 has a conductor 20 connected t0 the outermost end ofthe reduced portion I8 thereef, Said. conductor being entirely coveredby suitable insulation 2,2. The outermost f ree end oi this conductor 2Dopposite to the electrode I4 has a conventional clamp 2i securedthereto.

The electrode I2 has a knob r2li formed on the outermost free end Q f.the portion I thereof- The tube Ill has a protecting shell or cover 28of tubular nature disposed in telescoping relationa ship thereto. Thisshell 2,8 provided` with a plurality 0f elongated openings Sil disposed1er-iai,- tudinally with the tube lli to present open spaces wherebyportions of the tube IIJ remain exposed, `Any suitable means for holdingthe shell 2,8 upon the tube Ill such as a tight. slip fit may be used.

,Each 0f the ends of the tube H1 and therefore. the covering shell 2 8is provided with a tap` 32. These caps 32 are each provided a cavity 34for receiving the proximal ends of the` tube I and shell 28 and are madefrom any resilient and; non-conducting material such as rubber. The caps32 completely enclose the proximal end of the tube 23 and cover aportion of the sleevelikeV shell 28 by virtue of the hollow cavity 34,formed therein. As clearly illustrated` 2;, the caps 32- are eachprovided with openings for receiving the reduced portions i6 and i8 of,the electrodes I2 and I4 respectively. If desired, the cap members 32may be held in place upon the shell 28 by adhesion or simply by a tightslip nt.

In use the instrument is nrst grounded by affixing the clamp member 24upon a metallic element such as a part of the frame work 3S of theautomobile. The electrode I2 is then brought into close proximity withthe electrical circuit or electrical element to be tested, such as aspark plug 38 of an internal combustion engine head 40. When electricityis caused to flow through the ignition system of the automobile, thecondition of such current will show in the tube 28 through the openings30 of shell 28. In other words, the gas within the tube I0 will becomeeliminated, the color thereof depending upon the condition of theelectrical current. Different types of electrical trouble will indicateby different colors of the gas Within tube Il).

The device may be used to check worn distributor points, leakingcondensers, damaged distributor bushings or breaker arm plates, weakcoils or coil Suppressors, inoperable or defective spark plugs, shortsin ignition wires or leakage therein and many other defects common inelectrical apparatus.

Through use of the device above described, an automobile mechanic caninstantly determine whether or not automobile trouble is in thefaQ/redis# ignition or carburation. When the spark plug 38 is touched bythe electrode l2, the light appearing through the openings 30 of shell2B should be bright and clear and if not, the operator knows immediatelythat the distributor points or the condenser need checking, The absenceof any light or a dim light in the tube l0, indicates a short in thespark plugs or other wires of the ignition system and perhaps a Worndistributor cam. If the light indicated is extremely bright, then themechanic knows immediately that the spark gap is too wide. Intermediateflashing tells the operator that the ignition system has a weak coil.

Another indication of trouble is the appearance of the continuous streamof light at one or more of the spark plugs which teaches that thedistributor cap is perhaps cracked or has a short therein.

It is apparent from the foregoing that the device forming the subjectmatter of this invention has many uses and may be used indiscriminatelyby a mechanic without the danger of breakage because of the preciseprotection that has been given to the glass or otherwise transparenttube Ill. The shell 28 thereof protects substantially the entire lengthof the tube l0 and the rubber caps 32 at the ends thereof, not onlyprotect the operator from possible shock if the shell 28 is made frommetallic substance but also assures that the ends of tube l0 will not bebroken when placed in use.

While only one form of the present invention has been illustrated anddescribed, it is manifest that many changes and modications particularlyWith details of construction, may be made without departing from thespirit of this invention as dened by the appended claims.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed as new and desiredto be secured by Letters Patent is:

1. A testing device for electrical apparatus comprising an elongatedvacuum tube of transparent material; a pair of electrodes rigidlysecured within the tube and extending through each end thereofrespectively; an extended conductor hav- 4 ing connection with theoutermost end of one of said electrodes, said tube having a gas thereincapable of becoming illuminated when said conductor is grounded and theoutermost end of the other electrode is adjacent an electric current;and a tubular protecting sleeve tightly circumscribing said tube, withthe ends of the sleeve terminating in spaced relationship to proximalelec.. trodes, said sleeve having a plurality of aligned, longitudinallyextending, elongated slots therein for exposing parts of said tube.

2. A testing device for electrical apparatus comprising an elongatedvacuum tube of transparent material; a pair of electrodes rigidlysecured within the tube and extending through each end thereofrespectively; an extended conductor having connection with theoutermostend of one of said electrodes, said tube having a gas therein capable ofbecoming illuminated when said conductor is grounded and the outermostend of the other electrode is adjacent an electric current; a tubularprotecting sleeve tightly circumscribing said tube, with the ends of thesleeve spaced inwardly from proximal ends of the tube, said sleevehaving a plurality of openings therein for exposing parts of said tube;and a protecting cap of resilient, non-conducting material completelycovering each end respectively of said tube, one of said caps enclosingsaid one electrode and joining with the insulation of said conductor,the other cap enclosing a portion of said other electrode, both capstightly telescoping adjacent ends respectively of said sleeve.

GEORGE C. BUCK.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the le ofthis patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,380,839 Rosenbauer June 7, 19211,701,196 Spangler Feb. 5, 1929 1,915,709 Wiseman June 27, 19332,163,676 Gzzarelli June 27, 1939

